Alfie Solomon

Alfie Solomon (1895-1921) was a British-Jewish crime boss who vied for control of Camden Town, London during the early 20th century.

Biography
Alfie Solomon was born in London, England in 1895, the son of a Russian-Jewish refugee mother. Solomon was raised in a working-class family in Camden Town, and he made his wealth as a gangster, opening a speakeasy using a bakery, the Aerated Bread Company, as a front. He partnered with Italian crime boss Darby Sabini to control North London's rackets and racetracks, and Alfie and his brother Harry provided protection for Jewish bookmakers at the track where they became famed and feared. In 1921, he was acquitted for attempting to murder Billy Kimber after the witnesses "lost their memory". That same year, he went to war with Sabini's gang in a six-month gang war over control of Camden Town, and Sabini - aided by the police on his payroll - began to close down Solomon's businesses and gain the upper hand. Birmingham crime boss Tommy Shelby made himself known in London when he caused a fight at Sabini's Eden Club, and Solomon, interested in Shelby's capacity to make a deal, invited him to meet him at his "bakery". There, Solomon grew angry at Shelby, as he had been expecting a deal, while Shelby wanted to join forces; Solomon did not trust Shelby, insulting his Romani heritage and reminding him of his betrayal and murder of Billy Kimber. However, Shelby told Solomon that he was losing the war, and that he would need protection; Shelby offered to sway the police in Solomon's favor. Shelby ultimately gave Solomon 100 guards under Billy Kitchen, and the two decided to ally against the Sabini Gang.